Ukraine wants peace but won't give in, Zelenskyy says on Independence Day

Kyiv — Ukraine desires peace but refuses to acquiesce to Russia under any circumstance, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on Monday while commemorating Independence Day. Prominent foreign dignitaries, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa, attended festivities in the Ukrainian capital, marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's separation from the Soviet Union.

Burnham was set to co-chair a gathering of the "Coalition of the Willing" — an alliance of nations supporting Ukraine — during his inaugural visit to Kyiv. In a video shared on Telegram, Zelenskyy appeared in a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt before the golden-domed St Michael's monastery in the city square, where destroyed Russian tanks are displayed.

He reiterated Ukraine's stance, stating, "Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it is not prepared to simply surrender." Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia's persistent demand — repeatedly dismissed by Ukraine — for the country to relinquish the remaining portion of the eastern Donbas region, which remains under Ukrainian control after four and a half years of conflict, would not be accepted.